Need help, high torque starter. Options

[level914]

I have been told that I need a high torque starer for my 914. It's a 1976 2.0 and it has sat for some time, five plus years. I have had the starter that I have in it now tested and they say it looks fine. The problem I have is that the starter will turn the motor with no plugs in, but if I put one in, the starter fights past the one cylinder. If I put two plugs in it kills it completely. I assume maybe its more than just the starter, so I don't know if I should purchase the high torque one yet. Any help would be appreciated. By the way I do have a new fully charged battery and new ground and positive wires. I'm getting 13.8+/- volts to the starter. I'm a real big rookie at this.

[ArtechnikA]

I have been told that I need a high torque starer for my 914.

told by whom ? not someone who claims knowledge of 914's i hope ...
if i still lived in Minden like i did this time last year, i'd be up there to help you like a shot. as it is, i don't know a lot of 914-knowledgeable people in the area any more...

your voltage to the starter is good. now you need to make sure your ground path is just as good. check out the negative terminal at the battery, al the ground straps, and especially the transmission ground strap. by 'check' i mean remove, clean to shiney, replace.

this is presuming you don't have ultra-high racing pistons or other unusual stuff you haven't mentioned ...

it's possible the starter is gummy and gunky from sitting, and has developed corrosion or oxidation on the commutator. it's a PITA to R&R the starter but not horrible. (check out a decent repair manual, such as the Haynes, because there's at least one starter fastener that's non-obvious...). pull it, check the condition of the solenoid grease, look for corrosion on the commutator and clean that up a bit, lubricate as indicated, re-install, and see if that helps.

how hard is the engine to turn by hand ? another possibility is that the cylinders have filled up with water or something and are hydrolocking. or just that the rings have rusted in place - but that isn't typically a big problem in Northern Nevada ...

let me recommend you join the Sierra Nevad Region of PCA; it's a great bunch of people and while there aren't really very many active 914 people, there are people who can probably help you - especially now that the vintage racing season is drawing to a close...